Hyde County – Davey Jones, spokesman for the Hyde County Board of Commissioners, surprised county residents with news of the pending sale of Ocracoke Island to famed television personality Oprah Winfrey.
“Once finalized, Miss Winfrey will become the sole owner and operator of Ocracoke,” said Jones. “We are not sure what her plans are in regards to ferry tolls.”
The OBX Report reached out to Harpo Productions, Winfrey’s multimedia production company for further comment. Mr. Perple, a representative of the acquisitions branch of the company, confirmed the purchase and said, “Miss Winfrey’s plans for the island are still under development. However, as is her custom when taking over a new property, there will be significant rebranding. The island will be renamed “Opracoke” and the annual fig festival will be replaced with a Chicago Deep Dish Pizza event.”
Ocracoke residents had mixed feeling about their new landlord.
“I love me some Oprah. Been peddling this dern Huffy for 25 years. Maybe she’ll give us all new cars. Or golf carts,” said Mrs. Mary Killigrew, an Ocracoke resident since 1971. “
Mr. Robert Culliford, a lifetime resident of Ocracoke, disagreed. “If it ain’t tradition, it ain’t Ocracoke.
We don’t need no Yankee carpretbagger coming in here and tellin’ us how to run things.”
Sale of the island must ultimately be approved by the General Assembly and Governor McCrory, but little if any opposition to the plan is expected. Governor McCrory hinted at a recent press conference that he’d be willing to throw in Jennette’s Pier as part of the deal for a reasonable price.